Murray’s Scroggie on INA all-state first team

Murray senior Cody Scroggie makes contact with a pitch during district tournament
action in Lenox. After hitting .522 with 56 stolen bases, Scroggie was named to the
INA All-State Baseball first team as an outfielder.

By LARRY PETERSON OST sports writer • lpeterson@crestonnews.com

As a catalyst at the top of the Murray batting order, wreaking havoc on the base paths, as well as being one of the top defensive outfielders in southwest Iowa, Mustang senior Cody Scroggie is a first-team all-state player.

Scroggie was named to the top unit of the Iowa Newspaper Association’s Class 1A All-State Baseball Team today. The team is selected by a panel of Iowa sportswriters, with assistance from the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association.

Scroggie was the spark at the top of the lineup for coach Travis Held, hitting .522 with an on-base percentage of .606. He was one of the leading base stealers in the state, successful on 56 of 57 attempts, while scoring 50 runs. He drove in 23 runs, striking out only five times in 90 at-bats.

In addition, he showed range and a strong throwing arm in center field for the Mustangs, who finished 17-9 in a district semifinal loss to Lenox.

“His batting average and steals are so impressive,” said Murray coach Travis Held. “He was so important to us as a leadoff guy. He just found a way to get on base. The only time he got picked off was the first game against Lenox. He went too early and they got him in a rundown. He gets such a great jump off of a pitcher.”

Likewise for his play in the field, Held added.

“He can read the ball off the bat better than anybody I’ve seen,” Held said. “He knows how to judge it and he can get there and make a play.”

Scroggie is the only area INA all-stater this year. Other all-district players nominated for all-state included three versatile 1A players — Scroggie’s teammate, Austin Halls; and the Lenox duo of Mason Peterson and Caleb Lange.

Also nominated were Nodaway Valley standout shortstop Trevor Jameson (.531, 38 RBI) in Class 2A; and Creston catcher Zach Powers in 3A, who batted .429 with only two strikeouts.

One of Murray’s opponents in the Bluegrass Conference, league champion Twin Cedars, is well-represented on the INA all-state team after qualifying for the 1A state tournament.

Sophomore pitcher Otis Roby, junior catcher Hunter Embray and junior infielder Cory Harrell are all on the first team. Named to the third team from Twin Cedars were junior outfielder Brent Parker and pitcher-infielder Coy Moore at a utility position.

Martensdale-St. Marys, also a state qualifier and three-time Class 1A defending champion, had three all-state players this year. Senior infielder Gage Gavin and senior outfielder Trent Verwers were named to the first team. Junior pitcher Eddy Kraber is part of the third-team pitching staff.

In Class 3A, several opponents of Creston appeared on INA all-state teams. The first team included senior outfielder Austin Peterson and senior infielder Jordan Boughman of state qualifier Chariton, as well as ADM pitcher Dylan Nelson.

Harlan infielder Jake Daeges and teammate David Ratigan were named to the second team. Ratigan was named to a utility spot.

Glenwood pitcher Justin Fisher, ADM catcher Logan Essy and Chariton infielder Brett Braida were named to the third team.

Carroll Kuemper all-state players in Class 2A are pitcher Chris Halbur and outfielder Kolby Hilgenberg, both on the first team. Shenandoah infielder David Hogue is on the third-team infield.